You wouldn't believe the stuff that Phoenix police say they found at the home of the theft suspects: laptop computers, adoption papers, a valuable stamp collection, GPS systems, passports and more. What's worse, airlines generally won't compensate you for the loss of such valuable or exotic items.

You wouldn't believe the stuff that Phoenix police say they found at the home of the theft suspects: laptop computers, adoption papers, a valuable stamp collection, GPS systems, passports and more. What's worse, airlines generally won't compensate you for the loss of such valuable or exotic items. (McClatchy-Tribune News photo by Andre J. Jackson)

Worried about your bag being stolen in baggage claim? You've got plenty of company, especially since the recent news about police arresting a suburban Phoenix couple on suspicion of stealing nearly 1,000 bags from carousels at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Although airlines say that they recover nearly all the bags that owners report missing, and that only a tiny percentage are truly lost -- because they were misplaced, misrouted, stolen, abandoned or whatever -- that's small comfort to victims. Here are 10 steps you can take to protect your possessions, gleaned from my research and chats with security experts. --Jane Engle, Los Angeles Times